Baywatch voted worst American TV import

The men in suits who fulfilled a generation of teenage fantasies by bringing Baywatch to British screens have finally admitted what even its most ardent fans have known for years: the show was rubbish.

In a survey for the industry magazine Broadcast, television executives have voted the series the worst US TV import of all time.

"The appeal to a certain demographic of a series about a muscular lifeguard and his crew of pneumatic young helpers with raging hormones was enough to sustain the show through 12 years despite a script of mind-numbing predictability: beachgoer is saved from drowning," the magazine said.

The show that made global stars of David Hasselhoff and Pamela Anderson was shown in 140 countries.

It was so popular in Britain that, when it was axed in the US, ITV agreed to fund its continued production.

Also in the the top 10 of embarrassing US imports were the Dukes of Hazzard, the Jerry Springer Show and Knots Landing.

"British TV never realised how low it could go before Jerry showed the way," Broadcast said.

The Simpsons was named the most influential acquisition from the US, followed by Dallas and M*A*S*H.